What 'Turnkey' (With Material Construction) Actually Means
In Indore and across Madhya Pradesh, clients often ask for saman sahit nirman — construction with material included. In English, this is called turnkey construction or with material construction: a single firm takes complete responsibility for design, engineering, procurement of all materials, construction, and fit-out — and hands you a finished, move-in-ready space.
You don't manage contractors. You don't chase drawings. You don't reconcile bills between your architect and your builder. One contract, one point of contact, one handover.
What it is not: a contractor who also does a bit of interior work, or a designer who "manages" a builder they've never worked with before. Real turnkey requires the design and construction teams to be integrated from day one. At Studio23, our turnkey service covers architecture, interiors, structure, MEP, and full construction under one roof.
What's Included — and What Isn't
A properly structured turnkey scope covers:
- Architectural design — floor plans, elevations, sections, regulatory drawings
- Structural engineering — foundation design, column-beam layout, slab design
- MEP design — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire-fighting coordination
- Interior design — space planning, material selection, custom furniture, lighting
- Construction — civil work, finishing, fit-out
- Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) — procurement and installation
- Landscaping — if in scope
- Regulatory approvals — building permit, completion certificate
- Snagging and handover
What is typically not included unless specifically agreed:
- Land cost and registration
- Utility connections (electricity meter, water connection, gas pipeline)
- Society or authority charges
- Loose appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) unless specified
- Post-handover maintenance
Turnkey Construction Costs in Indore — 2026
These are real-world ranges based on projects completed in Indore and surrounding areas. They are not catalogue rates — actual costs vary with site conditions, specification level, and market timing.
| Specification Level | Civil + Structure | Interior Fit-out | Total Turnkey Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy (basic finishes) | ₹1,200 – ₹1,450 | ₹350 – ₹500 | ₹1,550 – ₹1,950 |
| Standard (mid-range) | ₹1,450 – ₹1,800 | ₹500 – ₹800 | ₹1,950 – ₹2,600 |
| Premium (high-spec) | ₹1,800 – ₹2,400 | ₹800 – ₹1,500 | ₹2,600 – ₹3,900 |
| Luxury (custom everything) | ₹2,400+ | ₹1,500+ | ₹3,900+ |
| Project Type | Typical Range (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Office fit-out (bare shell to furnished) | ₹1,800 – ₹3,500 |
| Retail / showroom | ₹2,000 – ₹4,500 |
| Restaurant / F&B | ₹2,500 – ₹6,000 |
| Hospitality (hotel / resort) | ₹3,500 – ₹8,000+ |
Commercial costs vary more widely than residential because the specification range is wider — a basic office fit-out and a high-end restaurant are both "commercial", but they have almost nothing in common in terms of material and labour intensity.
How Turnkey Pricing Works
There are two common pricing structures. Understanding the difference matters before you sign anything.
| Model | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-price lump sum | One agreed price for a defined scope. Variations are priced separately. | Clients who want cost certainty and have a clear brief | Scope creep — every change becomes a variation order |
| Cost-plus (percentage fee) | Actual construction cost + architect/PM fee (typically 12–18%) | Complex or evolving briefs where scope isn't fully defined upfront | No cost ceiling unless a GMP (guaranteed maximum price) is agreed |
| Hybrid (fixed design + cost-plus construction) | Design fees fixed; construction on cost-plus with a GMP | Most residential projects — balances certainty with flexibility | Requires trust and transparent cost reporting |
At Studio23, we typically work on a hybrid model for residential turnkey: fixed architecture and interior design fees, with construction on a transparent cost-plus basis with a guaranteed maximum price agreed before work begins.
The Turnkey Timeline — What to Expect
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Brief & concept | 2 – 3 weeks | Site visit, brief development, concept sketches, preliminary budget |
| Design development | 4 – 6 weeks | Floor plans, elevations, 3D visuals, material palette, structural coordination |
| Working drawings & approvals | 4 – 8 weeks | Construction drawings, BOQ, regulatory submission, contractor tendering |
| Civil & structure | 12 – 20 weeks | Foundation, columns, slabs, brickwork, plastering, waterproofing |
| Finishing & fit-out | 8 – 14 weeks | Flooring, tiling, painting, electrical, plumbing, joinery, furniture |
| Snagging & handover | 1 – 2 weeks | Punch list, corrections, final walkthrough, documentation handover |
Total: approximately 9 – 14 months for a standard residential project. Larger homes, complex sites, or premium specifications add time. Delays in regulatory approvals (which are outside the architect's control) are the most common cause of timeline extension in Indore.
5 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Turnkey Contract
- Is the scope document exhaustive? Ask for a room-by-room specification list, not just a summary paragraph.
- What is the variation order process? How are changes priced, and who approves them?
- Who are the contractors? Are they in-house, or subcontracted? Have you worked with them before?
- What does the payment schedule look like? Milestone-linked payments are standard — avoid front-loaded schedules.
- What warranty is provided? Civil work, waterproofing, electrical, and furniture should each have defined warranty periods.
Is Turnkey Right for You?
Turnkey (with material construction) works best when:
- You are not based in Indore full-time, or cannot supervise construction yourself
- You want a single point of accountability — one firm to call if something goes wrong
- You have a clear budget and want to avoid the coordination overhead of managing separate architects, engineers, and contractors
- You are building from scratch (new construction) rather than renovating an existing space
It may not be the right fit if:
- You want to be deeply involved in contractor selection and day-to-day site decisions
- You have existing contractor relationships you want to use
- Your project is a small renovation where the coordination overhead of a full turnkey contract isn't justified
You can see examples of completed residential and commercial turnkey projects in our portfolio. If you're ready to discuss your project, get in touch with Ar. Angad Kasliwal directly.
A Note on Vaastu
Most residential clients in Indore ask about Vaastu compliance. Our position: Vaastu is a design input, not a constraint that overrides good architecture. We incorporate Vaastu principles — orientation, room placement, entry direction — into the design process from the start, so it shapes the brief rather than requiring compromises at the end.
If you have a specific Vaastu consultant whose recommendations you want incorporated, we are happy to coordinate with them directly.
